Obituary: Glenva Dorene Watkins

Glenva Dorene Watkins (or “Sue” as she often preferred) was born to Glen and Burnice Everist June 20, 1926 in Cedar Bluffs, Kan. Glenva passed away June 26, 2013.

When her mother died in her early life, Glenva was cared for by her extended family. She was a member of the Class of 1944, graduating from Saratoga High School in Saratoga.

After graduation, Glenva went to work for the railroad where she was employed as a telegraph operator. Rodney Watkins, returning from WWII, displaced her from her position, but that didn’t stop her from marrying him five years later. By 1954, they had two daughters.

With the decline of the railroad, they moved west in 1956. Rod’s job took the family to many small towns in Washington and Oregon before settling in Salem Oregon in 1965. Glenva learned the skill of bookkeeping and was employed by JC Penney’s and then by the State of Oregon for many years.

Glenva provided service to her church (Englewood United Methodist), she was creative and was always trying to learn something new. She took Spanish classes, crocheted, sewed, finished ceramics, loved photography and was a member of the Capital Calligrapher’s Guild. Glenva loved to laugh and practiced yoga for over 40 years while watching the Tonight Show. She played the piano and frequently serenaded fellow grocery shoppers.

She is survived by many friends and relatives, by her adoring husband Rodney (Salem, OR), her two daughters Diana Everist Cox (Kingston, WA), Valerie Watkins-Millerick and her husband Jim (Miami, FL), her son Adam Watkins and his wife Cristine (Colorado Springs, CO), her grandchildren Jennifer Blanco and her husband Gary, Paige and Ian Watkins.